Robotics

• Three laws of robotics (by Isaac Asimov)

  • A robot may not injure a human through action or inaction
  • A robot must obey orders given by humans, unless it comes into conflict with law 1
  • A robot must protect itself, unless this conflicts with law 1
• Robotics


  Branch of (computer) science that brings together the design, construction and operation of robots
• Robots found in


  • Autonomous floor sweepers
  • Autonomous lawn mowers
  • Ironing robots
  • Pool cleaning
  • Automatic window cleaners
  • Entertainment ('friend' robots)
  • Factories (welding, spray-painting, fitting windscreens, cutting metal parts)
  • Bottling and labelling plants
  • Warehouses (automatic location of items)
  • Drones (unmanned aerial vehicles)
• Characteristics of a robot

  • Ability to sense their surroundings (via sensors)
  • Have a degree of movement (using wheels, cogs, pistons, gears, etc.)
  • Programmable (have a 'brain' known as a controller)
• Robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) are almost two entirely different fields
• Many robots don't possess artificial intelligence (AI) since they tend to do repetitive tasks rather than requiring adaptive human characteristics
• Software robots like search engine bots, WebCrawlers, and chatbots are not true robots according to the definition
• Independent robots


  Have no direct human control (are autonomous), can replace human activity totally
• Dependent robots


  Have a human who is interfacing directly with the robot, can supplement rather than totally replace human activity
• Areas where robots are used

  • Industry
  • Transport
  • Agriculture
  • Medicine
  • Domestic (home) use
  • Entertainment
• Programming of robots


  1. Programmed with a sequence of instructions

  2. Manually carried out by a human operator, with movements stored as instructions
• Robots are equipped with sensors to gather information about their surroundings and prevent them from doing 'stupid things'
• Advantages of using robots in industry

  • Can work in hazardous conditions
  • Can work 24/7 without stopping
  • Less expensive in the long run
  • More productive than humans
  • More consistent
  • Better suited to boring, repetitive tasks
  • Less cost in heating and lighting
• Disadvantages of using robots in industry

  • Can find it difficult to do 'non-standard' tasks
  • Can lead to higher unemployment
  • Risk of deskilling
  • Factories can be moved to lower cost locations
  • Expensive to buy and set up
• Autonomous vehicles


  Use sensors, cameras, actuators and microprocessors to perform critical functions safely
• Advantages of autonomous vehicles

  • Safer (remove human error)
  • Better for the environment (more efficient)
  • Reduced traffic congestion
  • Increased lane capacity
  • Reduced travel times
  • Stress-free parking
• Disadvantages of autonomous vehicles


  • Very expensive system to set up
  • Risk of hacking
  • Security and safety issues (software glitches)
  • Need for constant maintenance
  • Driver and passenger reluctance
  • Reduced need for taxis could lead to unemployment
• Autonomous trains


  Use sensors, cameras, actuators and on-board computers/microprocessors, including LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to build a 3D image of surroundings
• Advantages of autonomous trains

  • Improves punctuality
  • Reduced running costs (fewer staff)
  • Improves safety (remove human error)
  • Minimises energy consumption
• Sensors used in autonomous trains


  • Proximity sensors on train doors
  • Cameras (including infrared cameras)
• Uses of sensors and cameras in autonomous trains


  • Help control the train and maintain safety
  • Allow accurate changes in speed and direction to be calculated using GPS technology
• Actuators


  Play a huge role in controlling the train's speed, braking and the opening and closing of the train doors
• Advantages of autonomous trains

  • Improves punctuality
  • Reduced running costs (fewer staff required)
  • Improves safety (removes human error)
  • Minimises energy consumption
  • Increases train frequency
  • Easier to change train scheduling
• Disadvantages of autonomous trains

  • Fear of hacking
  • Doesn't work well with very busy services
  • High capital and operational costs
  • Ensuring passenger behaviour is acceptable
  • Passenger reluctance to use new technology
  • Need for CCTV to monitor stations
• Features of control system on pilotless airplanes

  • Sensors to detect turbulence
  • Increase in self-testing of circuits and systems
  • Sensors to detect depressurisation
  • Use of GPS for navigation and speed calculations
  • Actuators to control throttle, flaps and rudder
• Advantages of pilotless airplanes

  • Improvement in passenger comfort
  • Reduced running costs
  • Improved safety
  • Improved aerodynamics
• Disadvantages of pilotless airplanes

  • Security aspects
  • Difficulty dealing with emergencies
  • Hacking risk
  • Passenger reluctance
  • Software glitches
• Areas where robotics can play a big role in agriculture


  • Harvesting/picking of vegetables and fruit
  • Weed control
  • Phenotyping (plant growth and health)
  • Seed-planting and fertiliser distribution
  • Autonomous labour-saving devices
• Advantages of robots for harvesting and picking

  • More accurate (only pick ripe fruit)
  • Much faster
• Vegebot


  Uses cameras to scan and decide whether a lettuce is ready to be harvested, and a second camera guides an arm to remove the lettuce from its stalk with no damage
• Advantages of weed control robots

  • Distinguish between weeds and crops using AI
  • Use GPS tracking to stay on course and remove weeds
  • Drones used first to provide aerial view for programmed course of action
• Phenotyping


  The process of observing physical characteristics of a plant to assess its health and growth
• Advantages of phenotyping robots

  • Equipped with sensors (including spectral sensors and thermal cameras) to create 3D image/model of the plant
  • Use machine learning to recognise issues and convey to the farmer
• Advantages of seed-planting drones and fertiliser distribution

  • Produce aerial image of the farm
  • Allow for more accurate seed-planting and efficient fertiliser-spreading
  • Can be used in cloud seeding
• Autonomous agriculture devices


  • Grass mowers/cutters
  • Weeding, pruning and harvesting robots
  • Seeding robots
  • Fertiliser spraying
• Characteristics of autonomous agriculture devices


  • Use sensors and cameras to go around obstacles
  • Can be programmed to 'go to sleep' if weather turns bad
• Robots are used in surgical procedures to make operations safer, quicker and less costly
• Uses of robots in medicine

  • Monitoring patients
  • Performing minor surgery
  • Disinfecting rooms and operating theatres
  • Taking blood samples
• Microbots


  Microscopic mechanical components (including microprocessor) used in target therapy to localise a drug or other therapy to a specific site, causing less damage to surrounding tissue
• Prosthetic limbs


  Mini robots that interface with the human nervous system using bionic skins and neural implants, giving feedback to allow for better control